Federal Political Landscape: Calm Amidst The Income Trust Storm

Toronto, ON - An Ipsos Reid survey conducted during a week which saw Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the Conservative government allegedly flip-flop on an election promise and introduce new controversial tax measures on income trust funds reports that the Conservative government is not (yet) being punished in the polls for their actions.

The survey, conducted among a sample of 1003 adult Canadians on behalf of CanWest/Global, paints the federal political horizon as calm and stable despite the apparent income trust storm. Currently 37% of decided voters back the Stephen Harper led Conservative party (-1 point from an August 22-24th, 2006 Ipsos Reid survey), 29% support the Liberals (unchanged), 19% support the NDP (+2 points) and 5% support the Green Party (unchanged). In the Province of Quebec, the Bloc Quebecois (38%, -5 points) holds a strong lead over both the Liberals (22%, +3 points) and the Conservatives (21%, -1 point) who are both essentially tied for second.

Meanwhile, half of Canadians (54%) agree with the statement that "Canada is better off today than it was one year ago" (15% strongly agree).

But the same proportion (54%) feel that "no matter which party wins the next election, I expect it will have very little impact on Canada's economy" (20% strongly agree).

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest News Service/Global News and fielded from October 31st to November 2nd, 2006. For this survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1002 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the aggregate results are considered accurate to within +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within each sub-grouping of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Full tabular results are available in the attached factum and tables

For more information or to schedule a media interview, please contact:

Dr. Darrell Bricker
President & COO
Ipsos Reid Publc Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

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Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 300 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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